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farm； dogs and crowing cocks contend together in
defiance； and yet from this Olympian station； except for
the whispering rumour of a train； the world has fallen
into a dead silence； and the business of town and country
grown voiceless in your ears。 A crying hill…bird； the
bleat of a sheep； a wind singing in the dry grass； seem
not so much to interrupt； as to accompany； the stillness；
but to the spiritual ear； the whole scene makes a music
at once human and rural； and discourses pleasant
reflections on the destiny of man。 The spiry habitable
city； ships； the divided fields； and browsing herds； and
the straight highways； tell visibly of man's active and
comfortable ways； and you may be never so laggard and
never so unimpressionable； but there is something in the
view that spirits up your blood and puts you in the vein
for cheerful labour。
Immediately below is Fairmilehead； a spot of roof
and a smoking chimney； where two roads； no thicker than
packthread； intersect beside a hanging wood。 If you are
fanciful； you will be reminded of the gauger in the
story。 And the thought of this old exciseman； who once
lipped and fingered on his pipe and uttered clear notes
from it in the mountain air； and the words of the song he
affected； carry your mind 'Over the hills and far away'
to distant countries； and you have a vision of Edinburgh
not； as you see her； in the midst of a little
neighbourhood； but as a boss upon the round world with
all Europe and the deep sea for her surroundings。 For
every place is a centre to the earth； whence highways
radiate or ships set sail for foreign ports； the limit of
a parish is not more imaginary than the frontier of an
empire； and as a man sitting at home in his cabinet and
swiftly writing books； so a city sends abroad an
influence and a portrait of herself。 There is no
Edinburgh emigrant； far or near； from China to Peru； but
he or she carries some lively pictures of the mind； some
sunset behind the Castle cliffs； some snow scene； some
maze of city lamps； indelible in the memory and
delightful to study in the intervals of toil。 For any
such； if this book fall in their way； here are a few more
home pictures。 It would be pleasant； if they should
recognise a house where they had dwelt； or a walk that
they had taken。
End